Evacuation Order Issued For Rose Bowl Area

The iconic Rose Bowl venue, the home of UCLA football, is in danger of getting caught in the Eaton Fire.

The Rose Bowl stadium prepares to host the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks on Jan. 1, 2025. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As the destructive series of wildfires continues to devastate the greater Los Angeles area, an evacuation order has been issued for the Rose Bowl and the surrounding Pasadena area. The blaze that firefighters have been battling since Tuesday has already burned over 10,000 acres as of Wednesday morning.

Here at the Rose Bowl where large animals can be sheltered, 22-year-old Gabino Gonzalez and his father walked their horses out of the fires in Altadena all the way to Pasadena. Gabino’s home is gone, but he said he got his dogs & his family out and that’s all that matters. pic.twitter.com/vF63O6h964

— Maeve Reston (@MaeveReston) January 8, 2025

In response, many local residents, with their larger animals, fled to the Rose Bowl, the home of UCLA football, as the fire approached their properties. Due to the spread of the fire, propelled by high winds, the stadium is not a viable option, and city officials are asking residents to turn to their other evacuation centers set up for such a situation.

The Rose Bowl is not a pet evacuation site. Do NOT take your pet to the Rose Bowl area if evacuating. Take them to the Pasadena Humane Society at 361 S. Raymond Ave. They are not permitted in shelters unless certified service animals. Please avoid the Rose Bowl area.

— Pasadena Council District 6 (@Pasadena_D6) January 8, 2025

Residents who live in the current zone that the Rose Bowl resides in have been ordered to evacuate immediately if they have health issues. A strong warning has been issued for others, suggesting their departure from the area, implying there is imminent danger headed their way. As of this writing, the fire is about four miles northeast of the stadium.

While the fires have not threatened the iconic venue yet, there's a massive concern that the surrounding areas will be engulfed shortly. The venue itself is surrounded by parking lots and is currently being used by Pasadena Fire and Police as a command center while they battle the blaze.

Please be advised the Rose Bowl Stadium parking lots will be used tonight and in the coming days as a command post for Pasadena Fire and Police. We kindly ask that you avoid the area to ensure first responders have direct and easy access as they work to respond to the Eaton Fire.

— Pasadena Council District 6 (@Pasadena_D6) January 8, 2025

The Eaton fire is one in a series of fires that have caused catastrophic damage to Southern California. The Palisades fire has burned over 15,000 acres of land, being joined by the smaller Hurst and Woodley Fire.

It is expected that crews from around the country will be assisting in firefighting efforts as the state of California has issued a request for help, detailing the immense task ahead of them. California Governor Gavin Newsom has already declared a state of emergency while President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration that will allow those affected to have access to funds and resources.

The Rose Bowl venue was set to host a concert by The Weeknd, but that has been postponed. The 111th Rose Bowl game was just played at the venue on Jan. 1. Ohio State defeated Oregon 41-21.

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